Manhattan bomb suspect makes court appearance -- from hospital bed

Akayed Ullah...

Posted: Dec. 13, 2017 5:10 PM

Updated: Dec. 14, 2017 11:01 AM

Akayed Ullah made his first court appearance from a hospital bed on Wednesday, two days after authorities said he detonated a homemade device on a busy transit hub in New York City, injuring five people and creating panic.

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Ullah, 27, is being treated for lacerations and burns to his hand and abdomen at Bellevue Hospital after the bombing. His court appearance was transmitted over a video.

The Bangladeshi native was not required to enter a plea, but had to acknowledge that he understood the federal criminal complaint against him. U.S. District Court Judge Katharine Parker advised Ullah of his rights. Asked whether he understood he replied, "Yes, I do."

Parker requested a court-appointed defender for Ullah.

Ullah will be held without bail until his next preliminary court hearing on January 13, 2018.

He faces five federal terrorism-related charges and three state terrorism-related charges, according to court documents.

Authorities said Ullah detonated the device made of a battery, wires, metals screws and a Christmas tree light bulb in an underground walkway connecting two subway lines beneath the Port Authority Bus terminal, which accommodates 220,000 passenger trips a day.

The explosive chemical ignited in the pipe bomb but the pipe itself did not explode, lessening its impact, Gov. Andrew Cuomo told CNN's Wolf Blitzer.

Authorities said the explosion was an isolated attempted terrorist attack. Officials said Ullah pledged allegiance to ISIS and said he acted in response to Israeli actions in Gaza.